Zeronel Delores Tretter

IN MEMORY OF: ZERONEL DELORES TRETTER Serving Location: CRAIN FUNERAL HOME – MURPHYSBORO 1421 Walnut Street, Murphysboro, Illinois Zeronel Delores Tretter, age 97 of Murphysboro, passed away in her home on Sunday, November 12, 2023. On August 24, 1926 Zernie was born in Murphysboro to Terry and Carrie (Gorham) Lively. Zernie married Orest Joseph (O.J.) Tretter on January 6, 1951. They celebrated 52 ½ years of making wonderful lasting memories. He preceded her in death on August 24, 2003. She met O.J. after he was discharged from the service in 1947. She started working for him as a bookkeeper in 1949. He started his business as International Harvester in 1948. He went into several business ventures and she always had to keep the books for each business that he went into. Zernie took up golf in 1965. She was a Jackson County Country Club Champion twice in the 80’s. She had 4 hole in ones and also a 5th hole in one with a mulligan on Ladies Day. O.J. entered several couple’s tournaments on weekends, where they met a lot of lifelong friends. In 1984 she started the “Hello Dolly” tournament and it went on with First Bank & Trust as sponsors for 25 years. The bank then no longer sponsored the event, but Jackson County Country Club still continued to carry on the legacy. She loved to play gin after golf on Wednesdays on Ladies Day. She also was in a bridge club for several years. She was a member of the St. Andrew Catholic Church. However, she was attending Elm Street Baptist Church in her later years. She was blessed to have a wonderful friend, Monte E. Meixsell, who played golf with her for over 3 years. They both enjoyed golf. Monte has a daughter that Zernie has keep in contact with even after his passing in 2008. Zernie had many nieces and nephews, here in Murphysboro. They called her Aunt Zeronel or Aunt Zern. She had a special niece and nephew, Linda (Roger) Hines who was always there day or night to lend a helping hand. She was very close to her husband’s nephew and niece, Gary (Jane) Tretter, whom also was always there to lend a helping hand. Zernie is survived by her special nieces and nephews, Linda (Roger) Hines; Cynthia (Steve) Kessler; Randy (Kathy) Lively; Sharon Riggs-Bryant; Gary (Jane) Tretter; Alfred (Helen) Homan; Timothy Dillow; Tommy (Martha) Phillips; Jeff (Kim) Duke; Terry (Willa) Homan and Darrell (Linda) DeRossett; a host of great-nieces and nephews; special friends, Jan Rowe and Marlys Wolff; all of her Card Club friends; and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband; siblings, Ella Lively Simpson; Vera Lively Phillips; Mabel Lively Duke-Hanney; Nellie Lively Riggs; Terry Lively; Mary Lively DeRossett and Martha Catherine Lively Homan-Dillow and Terry Lively; several nieces and nephews. Funeral Services for Zeronel Tretter will be Thursday, November 16, 2023 at noon in Crain Funeral Home, 1421 Walnut St., Murphysboro with Father Robert Flannery and Pastor Charlie Allen officiating. Interment will follow in St. Andrew Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 am until the hour of service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, expressions of love may be directed to the Wounded Warriors and/or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and will be accepted at the funeral home. The family would like to thank her private caretakers, Fran Hopkins; Patty Stanton; Betty Marnati; Delores Kelly and Sherri “Peanut” Rudolph and Home Care Health Hospice for their wonderful care and compassion for Zernie during this journey.

Zeronel Delores Tretter

August 24, 1926 - November 12, 2023